[The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has this report and interview about, and will sponsor, a new immersive theater production designed to evoke intriguing presence experiences. See the original version of this story for two more pictures and see the production’s website for more information including (in the FAQ section) a list of the neuroscience experts who served as advisers and consultants. –Matthew]

David Byrne, Mala Gaonkar to open ‘Theater of the Mind’ in Denver with Off-Center

Massive theatrical immersion will take the audience on a deep dive into the human brain

November 7, 2019
By John Moore, Senior Arts Journalist

Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer David Byrne will head to Denver in August to present the world premiere of a new immersive theatrical production called Theater of the Mind in collaboration with co-creator Mala Gaonkar and co-produced by the DCPA’s Off-Center.… read more. “David Byrne’s “Theater of the Mind” immersive theatrical production to explore perception and identity”

[University of Toronto researchers are exploring how to design presence experiences to best support learning, as reported in this story from the University; for more about Michelle Lui and her work see her website and for more about Rhonda McEwen see her website and a 2018 story in The Medium. –Matthew]

[Image: Researchers created a simulation that allows students to observe and interact with the gene regulation process. Credit: Courtesy of Faculty of Information]

U of Toronto researchers explore virtual reality as a microbiology teaching aid

November 15, 2019
Rekha Morbia

Imagine being inside an E. coli bacterium, smaller than a speck of dust and surrounded by genetic material, molecules and proteins.

This could soon be commonplace for some microbiology students thanks to work by University of Toronto researchers who are investigating virtual reality design features that can support or impede learning.… read more. “U of Toronto researchers explore virtual reality as a microbiology teaching aid”

[This news release from Radboud University via EurekAlert! briefly describes a study that demonstrates the potential of VR and presence to provide time- and cost-effective life-saving training. The full article in JAMA Cardiology includes this additional detail: The Lifesaver VR app, experienced via VR goggles and headphones, presented a filmed scenario in which the user performs CPR on “a friend that collapsed during playing football. Chest compressions were practiced on a pillow. The app provided real-time feedback on chest compression rate, and instructions on chest compression depth” (Appendix 1). For more information and to download the Lifesaver VR app see the Lowlands Saves Lives website. –Matthew]

[Image: This is a visitor of Lowlands music festival participating in the study, in the VR training group. Credit: Boy Rozenburg.]

Randomized trial at music festival shows potential of virtual reality for CPR training

News Release November 17, 2019
Radboud University Medical Center

Cardiologists at Radboud university medical center performed a research project during a large music festival called Lowlands, in the Netherlands in August 2019.… read more. “Randomized trial at music festival shows potential of VR for CPR training”

[This story from Science describes what could become a revolutionary technology for presence-evoking displays; see the original version for a 0:49 minute video (a 5:39 minute Nature video is available on YouTube). More information is available in the University of Sussex news story, including these two quotes:

“Project leader Sri Subramanian, Professor of Informatics at the University of Sussex and a Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies, said: ‘Our MATD system revolutionizes the concept of 3D display. It is not just that the content is visible to the naked eye and in all ways perceptually similar to a real object while still allowing the viewer to reach inside and interact with the display. It is also the fact that it relies on a principle that can also stimulate other senses, putting it above any other display approaches and getting us closer than ever to Ivan Sutherland’s vision of the Ultimate Display.’”… read more. “See the new Star Wars-like display that could ‘revolutionize’ virtual reality”

[New software for creating and sharing data-based 3D presentations is expanding to augmented reality, where users can collaboratively “experience” data in ways PowerPoint doesn’t allow. This story from Next Reality describes the basics and the original version includes animated gifs and a 1:01 minute video. For more information see new coverage in AR Insider, a story in Forbes from May 2019, the Flow Immersive website, and the company’s videos on Vimeo. –Matthew]

Flow Immersive Launches Magic Leap Augmented Reality Data Slideshow App That Puts PowerPoint to Shame

By Cristina Brooks
November 14, 2019

Thanks to the expanding universe of augmented reality tools being made available, increasingly, anybody can liven up sleepy office meetings with immersive computing.

Now, a new 3D presentation-sharing service for the Magic Leap One has PowerPoint is in its crosshairs (someone had to do it), jockeying to be the next big thing for enterprise businesses.… read more. “Flow Immersive launches Magic Leap AR data slideshow app that puts PowerPoint to shame”